Bill Parcells hasn't stayed quiet about the possibility of coaching the New Orleans Saints

Two-time Super Bowl winner Bill Parcells hasn't returned calls to The Times-Picayune but he hasn't stayed quiet on the possibility of serving as the New Orleans Saints' interim coach for the 2012 season. Here are a collection of the comments made by the former coach of the Giants, Jets, Patriots and Cowboys after Saints Coach Sean Payton said he had spoken with Parcells, his one-time boss, about the possibility of replacing him while he serves a one-year suspension:

The Associated PressBill Parcells has had a few things to say about the possibility of coaching the New Orleans Saints.

"Sean Payton and I know each other well, and he has sought my counsel about his situation with the Saints. He has told me a little bit about the team, about the situation they're in, and about the players. But that is it,"

SI.com on Monday

"I have said that Sean Payton has spoken to me about the situation, but he's really sought my counsel. ... That's really the extent of it. ... I think everything is hypothetical at this point. It would be hard to be interested in something I don't know exists yet."

Newsday on Monday

"We played golf. We really didn't talk about the job. They told me they would be in touch."

The New York Daily News on Tuesday about Parcells' round of golf with Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis and Payton.

"If this guy says to me, 'Bill, I need you to do this. That's what friends are supposed to be for."

Newsday on Wednesday

"I don't know what the end result will be and whether or what in fact (the Saints) want to do. None of this has been discussed or decided. We're a long way off. ... I know people are thinking, 'There's a deal already done. But really, he's my friend. That's the first thing this is about. ... There are people who say. 'Well, Parcells like attention.' Well, I didn't do anything to create this."

USA Today on Wednesday

"If the opportunity presents itself, I'll think it over and clearly I'm in some phase of the process without knowing whether it's going to become a reality. Sean's become a dear, dear friend. I'm trying to be a friend.

"You know, when I was a young coach, there were people like Chuck Noll, Chuck Knox and Tom Landry who were there for me. I think to honor those guys who helped me, you turn around and pass that legacy on to somebody else and Sean's an example of that. If he needs me and the owner and GM feel the same way, then I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't consider it."

ESPN on Wednesday

"There are a lot of variables, things you may call ancillary things. My heart can go one way but my mind also has to analyze all these ancillary things and determine if it's truly what's right for Sean, the Saints, what's right for those players and coaches and if I'm equipped to make it work. So we have some time here."

ESPN on Wednesday

When asked about whether having to re-set his Pro Hall of Fame clock would impact a decision:

"I can't live my life worrying about something that might never happen. I have to be honest with myself. I don't know if that's going to happen or not. Why would you live your life worrying about something that's not going to happen? Don't assume that I don't think that's important to me because it is. But I'm not making any personal decision based on that."